François Tomb

The François Tomb is an important painted Etruscan tomb from the Ponte Rotto Necropolis in the Etruscan city of Vulci, in what is now central Italy. It was discovered in 1857 by Alessandro François and Adolphe Noël des Verges. It dates to the last quarter of the fourth century BC. The tomb seems to belong to the Etruscan family of the Saties (or Seties) and one of its chief occupants is Vel Saties, who appears with his dwarf, Arnza. Its painted frescoes are significant both iconographically and also in terms of their comments on Etruscan history and identity.

The François Tomb also contains a fresco depicting Caelius Vibenna (whom the Romans believed the Caelian Hill was named after) and Mastarna (a legendary figure whom the Emperor Claudius identified with Servius Tullius).

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